Cady House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Perched on a hilltop above Sonora, this single-story Greek Revival house dates to about 1856. It has white pine clapboard siding, a cedar shingle gabled roof, green shutters and lattice, and a pedimented portico supported by Tuscan-like pillars. Porches wrap the east and south sides, and the interior keeps 14-foot ceilings, old wallpaper, grained doors and an early dining room stove. Gardens with brick paths, old trees and native slate retaining walls surround the house. Local tradition holds that it was built on the East Coast and shipped around Cape Horn in numbered pieces, and a wood sample identified as Eastern White Pine supports an eastern origin. Deed research shows John Sherman Cady took title in 1866, and the earlier owner, G.C.E. Haley, may have had it built. The house was listed as an example of quality, lasting construction from the years when Sonora was changing from a mining camp into a permanent town.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a well-preserved example of Greek Revival architecture, a style popular in the eastern United States, built of quality materials at a time when Sonora was becoming a permanent settlement after the Gold Rush. It is described as one of Sonora's most cherished landmarks. Its origin is uncertain: local tradition says it was shipped from the East Coast in numbered pieces, and a wood sample identified as Eastern White Pine supports this.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82002281, listed February 25, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 72 N. Norlin St., Sonora |
|---|---|
| County | Tuolumne County |
| Listed | February 25, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002281 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent and altered, on its original site; occupied as a private residence. Historically opened to the public for tours of the house and gardens. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 37.98561, -120.38534 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82002281.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133571539
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.